Hame-hook-adjusting device.



J. F. NELSON. HAME HOOK ADJUSTING DEVICE. APPLIOATION FILED MAY a. 1908.

912,877. Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

UNITE STATti PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. NELSON, OF HAMMONTON, CALIFORNIA.

HAME -HO OK-AD JUS TING JDE VICE.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J muss F. NnLsoN, citizen of the United States,residing at Hammonton, in the county of Yuba and State of California,have invented new and useful Improvements in HameHook-Adj ustingDevices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in hame hooks for the attachmentof the traces or tugs by which the load is hauled.

It consists in the combination of a folded or double parallel sided hameplate having registering slots and holes, and a pin for the attachmentof the trace links, normally locked in the slotted portion and removablethrough the circular holes.

It also consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, and indetails of construction which will be more fully explained by referenceto the accompanying drawings, in whi,ch

Figure 1 is a perspective View showing my device. Fig. 2 is aperspective of the pin. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, looking fromthe other side of the plate.

It is the object of my invention to provide a convenient and ready meansfor connecting and disconnecting trace chains with the hame platesthrough which the power of the animal is transmitted.

A is a plate of this description which is folded upon itself so that thetwo sides are substantially parallel with each other, and separated adistance suflicient to easily admit the links of the chain 2. The frontend or bight of this folded plate is offset a little to one side, asshown at A, so that when connected with the hames through the usual linkor pin, it will be offset a little way from the collar, and will thusnot chafe or cut the collar. Through the two sides of the plate are madekey-hole shaped openings which register with each other, the part 3 ofeach openin being substantially circular, and the part 4 eing in theform of slots of less diameter than that of the circular openings. Theconnecting device between the chain 2 and this plate is a pin 5 havingupon one end a circular head 6 of larger diameter than the holes 3, andupon the other end a similar head 7 of less diameter than the holes, thesides of which head are flattened so that the distance transverselybetween these sides is less than the open space between the two sides ofa link, and this allows the pin to be Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 8, 1908.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

Serial a areness.

withdrawn when it is opposite the holes 3, and when the link stands withits side parallel to the flat sides of the head 7.

The pin has grooves or channels made ust inside of each of the heads 6and 7. These grooves or channels are of such depth that when turnedparallel with the slots 4: they will just slide in these slots,and willprevent the pin from turning. \Vhen in position in these slots, theflattened sides of the head 7 stand at right angles with the slot, andthe segmental or curved portions of the head 7 extend on each side ofthe slot so as to firmly lock the pin in place; the larger head 6 uponthe opposite side performing the same function on that side.

The operation will then be as follows: 1f it is desired to attach a linkof the chain to disengage a link and attach another for the purpose oftaking up and letting out the traces it will be accomplished as follows:Presuming the pin to be in position in the narrow end of the plate, anda link of the chain attached to the pin, it will then be in position forwork. If it is desired to change a link, the pin is pushed to a pointopposite the holes 3, and the link with which it is engaged, is movedwith it so that the opening through the link also coincides with theseholes. The pin is then turned so that the flattened sides of the head 7register with the sides oi the link, and the pin may then be pushedthrough the link and the holes, leaving the chain link free. The linkwhich it is desired to connect will then be substituted for thedisplaced one and the pin again inserted, and turned into position sothat the grooves or channels of the pin will slide in the slottedportions 4 of the openings in the plate until it arrives at the end ofthe slot, and in position for the pull to take place.

The advantages of this construction are, it requires no hammer to putthem together or take them apart; it cannot become disengaged; it willlast much longer than any other device on account of the double sidesand support for the pin. The pin being of large diameter gives a betterwearing sur- Iace and much longer life to both chain and pin. There isno hook to catch on other links and entangle the animals. When the linkhas been dropped, it hangs straight down freely and cannot get under thecollar or injure the animal. There is nothing to cut the collar, and asbefore stated, the offset f the plate carries it substantially free fromcontact.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent isy A hanie attachment for trace chains, comprising aplate folded upon itself so that the two sides are substantiallyparallel with each other, said sides being separated to admit the linksof a chain and said sides having keyhole-shaped openings which registerwith each other, the larger portion of each opening being substantiallycircular and the remaining portion being in the form of a slot of lessdiameter than that of the circular opening, and a pin having a circularshank and a circular head at one end of larger diameter than that of thecircular portion of said openings, said shank having at its opposite enda head of less diameter than the circular opening and having itsopposite sides flattened to allow the pin to be Withdrawn when it isopposite the circular openings in the plate, said pin having alsogrooves or channels just inside of each of its heads and of such depththat when the pin is turned to bring the grooves or channels parallelwith the narrow portion or" the openings in the plate, the said groovesor channels will engage and slide in contact with the walls of thesmaller portion of said openings, and the flattened sides of the secondnamed head will extend at right angles with this portion of theopenings.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JAMES F. NELSON.

lVitnesses:

J. E. ORR, F. M. HEWITT.

